Railways are the nation’s favorite long-distance commuter. It is very affordable and I have been traveling by train from time immemorial.
Railways have always felt welcome. My most memorable journey was along a route I travel very often. The Anuppur-Ambikapur route has some really obscure railway stations of Chhattisgarh. I was travelling to my grandparents’ place. What made this journey memorable was its timing.
We usually travelled at night. But this time, it was a day run. The journey was simply amazing. The route cuts through hilly areas. With numerous tunnels, bridges and a little brook here and there, the journey was a feast for my eyes.
The stations and the people were a completely different story. Ever heard of a junction that doesn’t sell tickets, visit Boridand. Or a station that provides tickets on small yellow hard-paper cards, visit Nagpur Rd. The Chhattisgarhi people are quiet, but you feel the hidden energy in them when you approach a station. The
language they speak sounds so familiar, yet so perplexing.
When travelling during the day, the 8-hour journey feels like minutes, but night journeys hit differently. I am always excited to go through that route, but the first daytime journey will always be there in my heart.
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